178 



RIDING FOR LADIES. 



away by the hoofs of other horses, and may thus occasion 

 him to go back again. You should rather urge him. 

 forward a Httle distance, in whichever direction his head is: 

 turned, and as soon as your eye detects a sound spot in the 

 bank, collect him for his effort, throw him the reins, and sit 

 well back while he struggles up the side. I do not mean 

 that you are ,to hang back, this will only impede him, 

 but keep your head well away from him, or his may strike 

 you a blow that will take you a long time to forget. 



Do not neglect, however, in the event of walking a horse 

 alono- a ditch which is skirted by thorn or hedge, to look 

 out for protruding brambles, and push them aside with your 

 hand as you go forward, lest your face suffer. On no 

 account neglect this precaution. 



The instructions given in the present chapter will be 

 found especially applicable to ladies who are fond of cut- 

 ting out a line of country for themselves, or whose pilots 

 may either have got lost in the fray, or may not be suf- 

 ficiently quick in turning to the rescue to prove of any 

 immediate assistance in case of need. 



In a forthcoming chapter on "hunting," I shall have 

 something to say on each of these subjects. 



. a...^ away ffoi^riksaLcLi ^; 'T^ ^^ ^^g^"^"^ 



